Myanmar Military 2026 Election Enters Phase 2 Amidst 'Sham' Allegations and Civil War
Myanmar's junta holds the 2nd phase of its controversial general election on Jan 11, 2026. Critics label it a 'sham' as the military-backed USDP faces no real opposition.
The ballot box is ready, but the winner is already decided. Myanmar's military junta is set to hold the second phase of its highly controversial general election this Sunday, January 11, 2026. It's a contest widely condemned by international observers as a facade to legitimize military rule. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is almost certain to sweep the polls, following its dominant performance in the first phase.
Myanmar Military 2026 Election: The USDP's Path to Power
According to The Irrawaddy, the outcome of this election is "predetermined." During the first phase on December 28, 2025, which covered 102 townships, the USDP reportedly claimed 80% of the vote. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by the detained Aung San Suu Kyi, was dissolved by the junta's Union Election Commission (UEC) after refusing to register for the polls in protest.
The upcoming second phase will cover another 100 townships, including critical areas like Yangon and Mandalay. However, with the opposition crushed, many USDP candidates are running unopposed. State media continues to dominate the landscape, while any criticism of the process is met with severe legal penalties.
A Divided Nation: Conflict and Exclusion
The election is taking place against a backdrop of intense conflict that has engulfed the country since the February 2021 coup. The military is currently battling dozens of ethnic armed groups and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF). The instability is so severe that the junta has admitted it can't hold elections in 65 townships, mostly in Rakhine and Shan states.
The outcome is effectively rigged to secure victory for the military’s proxy.
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